Hay-press



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. R. 8v A. W. BIGHAM.

HAY PRESS.

No. 387,039. Patented July 3 1, 1888.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. R. 8v A. W. BIGHAM.

HAY PRESS.

No. 387,039. Patented July 31, 1888.

r I T5544- nslllirlillllllll WITNESS/3S,

N. Femm mwmmgnmr. wam-gum nc.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSHUA R. BIGHAM AND AMBROSE W. BIGHAM, OF TERRELL, TEXAS.

HAY-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,039, dated July 3l, 1888.

(No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we. J osHUA R. BIGHAM and AMBRosE XV. BIGHAM, citizens of the United States, residing at Terrell, in the county of Kaufman and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hay- Presses; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to hay-presses of that class in which the hay, straw, fodder, r other material to be pressed is fed from the top into a rigid Aframe-work, and subsequently pressed longitudinally therein by means of a plunger actuated by a lever; and it has for its object to produce a simple and effective machine of the character described, which shall possess advantages in point ofdurability, cheapness of manufacture, and general efficiency. We attain this object by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a general perspective View of our device. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 isavertical longitudinal section on the line 4- 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an end view looking from the right-hand end of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail perspective view ot' one of the side catches. Fig. 7 is asimilar view of the top catch. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the end pieces.

Similar parts in the different figures of the drawings are denoted by the same letters of reference.

A indicates the main frame of our device, comprisinga numberofuprights, a, and a number of longitudinal beams, a', the whole properly secured by transverse bolts a2. This frame is of a suitable length, and has a bottom, B, extending throughout most of its length, and a top, O, somewhat shorter, firmly secured in place by said transverse bolts a2.

At one end of the frame, (in this instance the left-hand end,) upon a vertical bar, el, is pivoted aswingpower-lever, D, to the outer longer arm of which the power is applied, either by hand, horse-power, steam, or other means, to

these parts being effectthepressingofthehay. Asuitablecurved track, d2, is provided some distance from the bar d for supporting the longer arm. Sliding longitudinally within the frame Aisaplunger, P, which receives its motion from the short arm of the power-lever D through a pitman or connecting rod, E, pivoted at its opposite ends to the power-lever and plunger, respectively. It will be understood that when the power-lever stands in alignment with the frame the plunger will be projected within said frame toward the right-hand end thereof', and when said power-lever is moved to either side the plunger will be withdrawn toward the left. lIhe path and distance of motion ofthe plunger are from the upright marked 1 to that marked 2, and between these uprights the top of the frame is open, a suitable table, F, being provided opposite thereto for facilitating the loading of the hay into the press.

Between uprights l and 2 the sides of the frame are solid; but between uprights 2 and 3 a number oflongitudinal slots, G,are provided, for the purpose of inserting binding\vires after the hay has been pressed, as will be readily understood. The bars H of the sides (between which the slots G are left) are hinged to upright 2 and connected with opposite upright, 3, by a vertical bar, I, against which screws having hand-wheels J in the uprights 3 are adapted to be screwed for pressing the hay laterally.

K are end pieces, one of which is secured between the free ends of bars H in any suitable manner, provided it be removable, and another of which is passed down into the open top of the frame between uprights l and 2. The hay is then fed into this open space in ad- Vance of the latter end piece until the space within is completely lilled. The power-lever is then operated and the plunger forced inward thereby, whereby the hay is compressed between the two end pieces. The hand-wheels J are then turned, thereby further compressing the hay, and the bale may then be wired through the slots G, as above described, the end pieces being also provided with slots gfor this purpose. After wiring, the right-hand end piece is removed and the finished bale withdrawn.

For holding the inner end piece against the IOO expansive force of the compressed hay, we provide side catches, L, pivoted upon vertical pivots in the side of the frame, pressed inwardly by springs Z, and having faces Z projecting in- 5 wardly into the frame, against which the end piece, K, will catch, as will be obvious. A

stop, Z2, is provided, as shown, upon each side ofthe press to limitthe movement of the catches L. At the upper part of the frame we also 1o provide a top catch, M, pressed downwardly by spring m, and having aface, m', adapted to engage the upper end or edge of the end piece to assist in preventing its being pressed back by the expansive force of the hay. The top i5 catch, M, is pivoted on pins m'l passing through holes in the sides of the frame. The faces of the side catches, L, and of the top catch, M,

are on the same vertical plane and at a point slightly beyond which the face of the plunger 2o P passes at the inner end of its stroke, whereby the inner end piece will be passed by them,

and when the plunger is withdrawn will rest against them, the sides of the plunger being out away at p for permitting it to pass the in- 25 clined backs of the several catches without depressing them.

\Vhat we claim as new is- .i 1. The combination, with the frame, of pivoted spring-actuated catches, constructed sub- `a pivoted power-lever, a pitman .connecting the latter and the plunger, the hinged side bars, the outer end pieces adapted to be secured between said bars by adj nstableblocks, A

the inner end piece, springactuated side catches for retaining the same against backward movement and provided with shoulders, pins for limitingthe movement of' said catches, and the spring-actuated horizontally-disposed top catch, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

' In testimony whereof we affix oursignature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSHUA R. BIGHAM. AMBROSE W. BIGHAM.

Witnesses: l Q. S. BARRETT, T. L. STANFIELD. 

